Trying to Swipe an Entire Rainbow

The last pour and swipe that I did on a tile, I was using up old left over paint colors and just casually mentioned that it was a rainbow of colors. Hmm, that got me to thinking. Maybe I should actually make a rainbow.

I’m working on a 6 inch glossy white tile again today and I’ll add stripes of color in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and then violet at the bottom. I try to create a sort of arc of color but because I’m swiping it’s really not too important to get any kind of an accurate shape.

Then I swipe – and wow! It’s certainly not a rainbow but it is absolutely glorious! There’s enough paint that I can actually tilt it a little too to move the cells and shapes to create an even more interesting composition and move the shapes over the edge of the tile. I love it when the pattern continues over the edge.

Now I know I say this all the time, almost every time I complete another successful pour – but this one really is my favorite so far. The shapes and colors, well I think they are amazing.

I’ve got to give this another try one day. Of course it will never, ever, ever come out the same even if I did it 100 times, but I can certainly recommend pouring a rainbow next time you have some paints to use up. Check out the slideshow below for wet and dry pictures and close ups of the details.

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Video tutorial. How to create a rainbow swipe with acrylic pouring and painting. Acrylic fluid art.

22 thoughts on “Trying to Swipe an Entire Rainbow”

  1. How do you prepare and then seal a tile. In my mind i think the paint would very easily peel off. What do hohh mix your paint with? Your worm is stunning.

    1. I usually just paint straight on the tile because they are only usually for my fun experiments. But you could prep them with a gesso before pouring. I’ve never had trouble with paint coming away. I’m still trying out all sorts of different additives and formulas so I can’t tell you a magic recipe (yet) that is going to work, but keep watching for some more videos with all my testing of new pouring mediums etc. And thank you for the kind comment.

    2. I have done some tiles for coasters and I use Krylon Acrylic Coating. it seals the tile but smears the colors again. Need to find something that will keep the tile with the colors and design that I originally made. How about resin?

    1. It’s a combination of the paints mixing and the silicone oil adds to that. Not to do with the tile, the same thing happens on a canvas too.

    1. What really creates the cells is the way the paints react with each other as one goes over the top of another. Differing densities of paint fall or rise in the blend causing the cells. You can encourage this to happen by making them move more with the addition of an additive such as silicone oils.

  2. Tammy mccarron

    Hi there, when you say silicone oil, do you mean just regular silicon for bathtubs etc or is there a specific type that you buy from a craft store. Also how much do you usually add? Just a squirt or a lot?

    1. Oh no, not that kind of silicone sealant that comes in a tube. This is a silicone oil. You can get it in a can like a silicone libricant in the DIY store but it smells and can be a bit messy. The ideal kind seems to be Treadmill belt silicone which is 100% silicone oil. You can see it here – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=treadmill+belt+lubricant&crid=2F2MLQ23VTCV2&linkCode=sl2&linkId=fbe2e9914aad85f2182af2a2bf582e42&sprefix=tread%2Caps%2C213&tag=artcrnm-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl

    2. And you have to experiment to see how much to add. It can be about 1 drop per 2-3 oz of paint or so. Some people use more. It all depends on what works for your paints.

    1. The torch has two functions. 1 – it gently warms the paint and causes any air bubbles to rise to the surface and pop so you get a cleaner finish once the paint has dried 2 – at the same time it also gently heats the silicone causing that to rise through as well and help to create the cells in the paint.

    1. My recipe for this painting: 1 tbsp paint, 1/2 tbsp floetrol, about 1 tsp water, couple of drops of oil per color. No I don’t use Liquitex often, its very expensive here.

    1. No. I’m concerned about possible release of fumes into the house and the oven. Plus its not the sort of thing I would be comfortable recommending to others unless I could know it was completely safe. I’ve heard some people do it outside in a toaster oven they use just for crafts.

    1. Yes you can. There are several painters who do. But be aware that some of them blow hot air rather than just heat and can move your paint about more than you would like. A torch is the preferred method for me.

  3. Christine Conroy

    Hi Deby
    I watched your video that showed you making a cell activator using Amsterdam paint & Floetrol (I think) and Liquitex Basics Acrylic Ink. I searched online for the Basics Ink but could only find their ‘Professional’ brand so I wrote to Liquitex. I explained to them what I could see on the ink bottle & asked if it was different from the ‘Professional’ brand. I got an overnight reply saying they didn’t have a Basics brand! I agree that Liquitex is expensive but then again, here in New Zealand, everything for art is expensive! Can you please enlighten me on this point? I’ve ordered some Celltastic from the States via a friend coming back from a visit to US-based family but whatever the product costs, the final cost for Celltastic & delivery costs comes to 3 x the original price!!! So if I can make a fool-proof cell activator using your recipe, that would be fantastic.
    Love watching your videos – lovely techniques & clear diction with use of ‘proper’ English!!
    Christine, Carterton, Wairarapa (north of Wellington, North Island, NZ.)

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